False.

European countries did not band together to scheme against the United States economically, and the United States has historically encouraged European integration.

The European Union was created in 1993 to expand cooperation between member states, establish European citizenship and introduce a single monetary policy with the euro.

But as early as the 1950s, predecessor organizations were formed among European nations “with the aim of ending the frequent and bloody wars between neighbors, which culminated in the Second World War,” according to the European Union’s website.

Wolfram Kaiser, a professor of European studies at the University of Portsmouth, said the United States and European capitals were bound closely by the Cold War, as well as political and economic interests.

“European concerns were with reconstruction, overcoming national conflict, creating a peaceful organizational framework through economic integration and so on — not opposing the U.S.,” Mr. Kaiser said.

Desmond Dinan, a professor at George Mason University who has written several books on the European Union, also said Mr. Trump’s statement was not correct.

Mr. Dinan said there were a number of other political, economic and security reasons for European integration. They included attempts to increase growth and employment; end currency fluctuations and eradicate transaction costs; and enhance internal security through law enforcement cooperation.

The United States has supported European integration efforts since the 1950s “as a means to prevent another catastrophic conflict on the European continent and foster democratic allies and strong trading partners,” according to the Congressional Research Service, an arm of the Library of Congress that provides analysis to lawmakers.

For example, Secretary of State Dean Acheson made the case to Congress for an integrated Western Europe; in 1952, he praised the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community as “essential” to peace and prosperity.

“In other words, what Trump has said could not be less true,” Mr. Kaiser said.

Today, the European Union is the United States’ largest trading and investment partner, and the relationship is largely harmonious and mutually beneficial, despite some tensions, according to the Congressional Research Service.

While the common market gives member states greater leverage in negotiations, the European Union “has always used its trade policy to push for greater liberalization,” Mr. Dinan said.

“This has been the case consistently in the E.U.’s relationship with the U.S.,” he said. “Indeed, the E.U. and the U.S. have traditionally worked together to promote global trade liberalization.”

Sources: European Union, Congressional Research Service, The New York Times, Wolfram Kaiser, Desmond Dinan

Linda Qiu is a fact-check reporter, based in Washington. She came to The Times in 2017 from the fact-checking service PolitiFact. @ylindaqiu